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Topcliffe is a mainstream primary school that gets specialist funding to cater for autistic youngsters in separate classes using a range of technologies.

With the help of the University of Birmingham, the school is trialling the robots as classroom buddies for autistic pupils in an initiative that aims to improve social interaction and communication.

Research shows that children with autism often find computers and technology safe, motivating and engaging, particularly in the areas of social interaction and communication.

The robots, which cost around £15,000 and were donated by their French manufacturer Aldebaran, are the latest in a range of innovative technologies that the school has been experimenting with.

The robot dances for Daniel: The machines, which cost £15,000 each and were donated by French robotics firm Aldebaran, can dance to Thriller, play games and demonstrate Tai Chi

THE AMAZING MACGYVER ROBOT

Robots might soon be able to use tools like MacGyver to solve complex problems by improvising with whatever everyday items they can find.

A U.S. Navy funded research team are working on an automaton that can mimic the resourceful creativity of the Eighties TV hero to escape from sticky situations.

Robots are increasingly being used to explore hazardous environments. But if one was trapped in a burning room by a jammed door, it couldn't work out how to use nearby objects to climb over debris, pry open the door and escape.

A research team led by Professor Mike Stilman at the Georgia Institute of Technology hopes to change that by giving robots the ability to use objects in their environments to accomplish high-level tasks.

'Our goal is to develop a robot that behaves like MacGyver,' he said, adding: 'We want to understand the basic cognitive processes that allow humans to take advantage of arbitrary objects in their environments as tools.

'We will achieve this by designing algorithms for robots that make tasks that are impossible for a robot alone possible for a robot with tools.'

Dr Karen Guldberg, from the University of Birmingham’s School of Education, said: 'We have been looking at how technology can support pupils with autism to communicate more effectively.

'Pupils and teachers are experimenting with the robots and other technologies in a developmental way and they are showing significant benefits for the classroom.

'The robots have been modelling good behaviour and acting as buddies.'

Speaking to the BBC, she added: 'It is amazing to see how engaged and focused they can be when they are working with the robot. It can be very difficult to get children with autism to focus.'

Autistic children in particular find the technology predicable, but a well thought out programme could also work in mainstream classes, Dr Guldberg added.

Mr Lowe added: 'The robots have been brilliant at supporting autistic children with their learning. You can program them to teach language, play games and model behaviour. We have even used them in assemblies.

'In the future we are looking to see if they can be used to support learning not just at school but at home as well.'

The pupils are also taken with the tiny androids. Seven-year-old Joshua told Sky News he likes playing memory games with the robots, while Daniel and Khalim say they like to watch their electronic buddies dance.

Teachers told Sky News the fact that the normally reticent youngsters are so keen to discuss the robots shows their value in bringing autistic children out of their shell.